Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Good growth on the corn Les - remember not to shake too much or too early this time

That was Monya that shaked the s**t out of the stalks - good thing he told us about it otherwise I would have done exactly the same thing

What does shaking do?

pi%$es you off if it's your tattooist Helps pollinate the corn

It feels good

The corn puts out a fine dust which pollinates the tassles on the end of the corn cobs - normally this gently floats down and lands on the tassles and pollinates naturally...shaking the stalk gets the pollen dust to release in a cloud and does the work but only if there is no breeze.

The alternative is to place a bag over the pollen seeds and catch the dust, then pollinate as the tassles emerge...we have had bad weather with strong winds and I lost all the pollen (coz I didn't cover them)...so the corn cobs with the long tassles are long due to my negligence/laziness

Geez Les you have a good memory for other people's cockups

Either that or these days most of Les's memories are other peoples memories

mmm, I do believe the pollen comes from the tassles. Tassles are where the pollen comes from Les. It would be the top of the stalk. That thing up there is the tassles. The silk is what comes from the cob, one silk for each currnel (sp?) of corn. So, the tassles are on the top of the corn plant and they produce the pollen. When you shake the s**t out of the corn stalk the tassles throw the pollen to far away. Gently shaking would allow the pollen to fall straight down onto the silk which comes from the ear of the corn.
Did I sat the tassles are at the top? They produce the pollen for the corn.

have half a doz corn stalks in the dirt..........when are they ready to harvest?

Corn is ready when the kernels are filled. Juice from the kernels should be milky white and soft.

The best time to pick corn is in the early morning or evening when it is cool

Edited : looked it up in my gardening book...

Normally, sweet corn is ready for harvest about 20 days after the first silks appear

Course 20 days is probably too long for Les to remember so I'd suggest you use the first method Les

Corn juice does not come in a can. It's not a fancy drink and there is no market for corn juice alone. Do not juice your Corn! Shake your Stalk!

.... no, meant if you press the kernel with your fingernail, the juice should be milky white....

I knew that, Rup. More or Les.

helps to get rid of the drips